Flame virus can destroy computer files - Symantec

June 21, 2012|Reuters

* Symantec says it found Flame module that deletes data

* Researchers previously only found spying modules in Flame

By Jim Finkle

BOSTON, June 21 (Reuters) - The Flame computer virus is notonly capable of espionage but it can also sabotage computersystems and likely was used to attack Iran in April, accordingto a leading security company, Symantec Corp.

Symantec researcher Vikram Thakur said on Thursday that thecompany has now identified a component of Flame that allowsoperators to delete files from computers.

"These guys have the capability to delete everything on thecomputer," Thakur said. "This is not something that istheoretical. It is absolutely there."

Iran complained about the threat of cyber attacks again onThursday, saying it had detected plans by the United States,Israel and Britain to launch a "massive" strike after thebreakdown of talks over Tehran's nuclear activities.